Please join with Myanmar Lutherans as they face the daunting and difficult task of responding with the love of Jesus to the needs of their fellow Christians and their neighbours in this time of great hardship after the recent flooding. Find out how to donate here!

Australian and New Zealand Lutherans are invited to support their brothers and sisters in the four Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches in Myanmar, who are either themselves affected by devastating floods or struggling to assist people who are. Leaders of the four churches have asked Australian and New Zealand Lutherans to join them in prayer and in their work to meet urgent needs.

Glenice Hartwich says, ‘Please join with Myanmar Lutherans as they face the daunting and difficult task of responding with the love of Jesus to the needs of their fellow Christians and their neighbours in this time of great hardship.’

Rising floodwaters brought about by heavy monsoon rains and compounded by Cyclone Komen now affect 12 of the 14 states in the country. Leaders of the four LWF member churches are working to assess the needs of their people, but access and communication in many areas have been severely affected.

For some of the small Lutheran churches with limited resources, even the task of getting to the regions where their members are living is difficult. Luke Andrew of the Lutheran Bethlehem Church writes, ‘Due to the communication cut out from our community centres, our church had to send the volunteers personally to assess the extent of damage in our communities and identify how we can be able to assist.

‘We express our profound appreciation for your concern and prayers, which has brought us hope and strength during this ordeal times.’

The first phase of support in a disaster such as this is to provide people with food, clean water and medical aid, followed by the massive task of helping people rebuild homes and livelihoods long after the floodwaters recede.

Rev James San Aung of the Myanmar Lutheran Church writes,’ I am so thankful to you for your deep concern for the needs of emergency relief to the affected people in Myanmar’. And Rev Martin Lalthangliana of the Lutheran Church in Myanmar asks fellow Lutherans to ‘please pray for the families with death who are facing a lot of difficulties. Pray for God’s provision and kindness for the suffering families.’

The Mara Evangelical Church (MEC) is by far the largest of the LWF member churches in Myanmar with over 25,000 members. The General Secretary of the MEC, Rev Satu Ve U says that many church members are affected by the floods. Two members are known to be drowned, and hundreds of rice crops in paddy fields and houses have been lost.

Donations for the support of the four LWF member churches in Myanmar can be made by electronic funds transfer to:

• Account name: Board for Mission
• BSB #: 704942
• Account #: 133353

If transferring funds from an LLL account, please add S1 at the end of the account number eg 133353 S1.

Many of our partner churches are working in new territory for the kingdom of God; therefore, spiritual attack is their everyday reality. As a member of a congregation, school, or family, or a couple or individual, you are invited to commit to praying for our partners in mission. For regular prayer point updates, go to www.lca.org.au/international-mission/act-now/pray

Read more stories about our partner churches in Myanmar at https://www.lcamission.org.au/category/stories/international-partners/myanmar/